Ocean Plastics in Shoe Design

adidas

3D-printed Ocean Plastic shoe.

Adidas and environmental think tank Parley for the Oceans have unveiled an innovative footwear concept made from recycled plastics culled from the ocean. The 3D-printed Ocean Plastic shoe midsole was offered at a Paris conference as a way to demonstrate how the shoe industry can rethink design and help clean up ocean plastic pollution.

“World leaders forging an (climate) agreement is wonderful, but we shouldn’t need to be told to do the right thing. The industry can’t afford to wait for directions any longer. ” says adidas executive Eric Liedtke. “We want to bring everyone from the industry to the table and create sustainable solutions for big global problems.”

Plastics are said to make up almost 80 per cent of ocean pollution. The concept shoe consists of an upper made with ocean plastic content and a midsole which is 3D printed using recycled polyester and gill net content.